Protector for blisters



(No Model.)

I. M. HEMSTBGER.

PROTECTOR FOR BLIST'BRS', POULTIGES, &c. No. 525,546. Patented Sept. 4, 1894.

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UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

IDA M. HEMSTEGER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PROTECTOR FOR BLISTERS, POULTICES, 80c.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 525,546, dated September 4, 1894.

Application filed September 1, 1893. Serial No. 484.574. (No model.) 7

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, IDA M. HEMSTEGER, a citizen of the United States, residing in Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Protectors for Blisters, Poultices, and Com presses, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a protector or case for use in conjunction with the application of poultices, blisters, hot and cold water com presses and like external remedial applications. And it consists in a water proof casing adapted to cover the back and the outer margins of the face of the poultice, blister or compress.

In the accompanying drawings which forma part of this specification, Figure 1 is a face view of my improved protector. Fig. 2 is a section of the same on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 a section on the line 33 of Fig. 1. Figs. 4 and 5 show difierent shapes illustrating how the protector may be adapted for use upon different parts of the body.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout all the figures.

I make the protecting case preferably of india rubber or cloth coated with india rubber, although it may be made of any water proof material. The shape of the protector is a variable one and to be made to correspond to the shape and dimensions of the poultice, blister or compress. In any case said protector should consist of a back or covering part A and a margin 13, the back and margin being connected together the whole constituting what may be briefly described as a bag of water proof material having one of its faces or sides cut away to form a marginal face. The poultice, blister or compress is placed within this open faced casing, its edges covered by the margin B and its back protected by the backing A. It may then belaid upon the body of the patient or suspended or tied thereon in such manner'that the exposed portion of the poultice, blister or compress will be in contact with the skin.

In case of large poultices, &c.,I sometimes find it convenient to provide marginal perforations, as for example at 0 into which tapes d may be threaded or laced, and which will securely hold the contained poultice or other remedial application in its place while it is being handled in applying or removing the same. It is also convenient especially in large protectors to have a nozzle or drainage opening e in some part of the margin, as for example at the corner, as shown in Fig. 1, where such an opening is shown to be provided with a screw cap or plug. And if the material employed for the casing be stifi enough, as for example, if it be made of rubber it will be better if the extreme edges be formed in to the depression or groove f which when the apparatus is in position onthe bodycwill form a gutter or collecting place for the water or llquid that may drain from the poultice, blister or compress h contained in the protector.

The shape shown at Fig. at is one adapted to be applied more particularly to the chest and has a form suited to coverthe chest and extend also at each side up to or over the clavicles. Loops or projections g afford a means for attaching strings or tapes to secure the apparatus upon the body, so that the pa tient may sit up without displacing the application.

It will be noticed that by use of this simple protecting device, which is light and comfortable, the moisture of the poultice or compress is kept from evaporating, and the heat is re tained for a longer time. It also tends to prevent changes in temperature which are always more or less dangerous, and it guards against cold edges which are chilling and disagreeable to the patient. It also prevents the wetting and staining of the bed clothing or clothing of the patient and dispenses with the necessity of extra cover cloths, which are always heavy and distressing to the sufferer, and finally prevents displacement of the application by the patients movements. It is cheap, durable and effective.

I prefer to construct the protector with the marginal part B united at all sides to the back piece A as the protector may be then used in any position upon the body without danger of the liquid content-s escaping; but it is obvious that at one of the sides the case may be left open if care be taken to keep this side at a greater elevation than the rest of the apparatus.

The material for the protector which I prefer to use, is, as above stated, india rubber which will be perfectly water proof and remain so for any length of time. But in lieu thereof an excellent substitute though not so durable is ordinary oil cloth or oiled silk, or even closely woven cloth as for example what is called duck. And by waterproof material as used in this specification I mean, such material as will be sufficiently impervious to liquids to accomplish the purpose of retaining the moisture in the remedial application and preventing the same from flowing out to stain the clothing.

I claim 1. The poultice, blister or compress protec tor, consisting of a bag made of water proof material and having one of its faces or sides cut away to form a marginal face, substantially as specified.

2. The poultice, blister or compress protector, consisting of a bag made of water proof material and having one of its faces or sides cut away to form a marginal face, and provided further with means, as for example the aperture 0 for attaching a holding tape or tapes to cross the open face of the protector, substantially as specified.

3. The poultice, blister or compress protector, consisting of a bag made of water proof material and having one of its faces or sides cut away to form a marginal face, and provided with means, as for example the loops g, for attaching tapes or strings by which the apparatus may be fastened to the body of the patient, substantially as specified.

4'. The poultice, blister or compress protec tor made of water proof material and consisting of the backing part and the marginal face whereby the poultice, blister or compress is protected at the back and edges and exposed at the face, provided with the groove or gutter f, substantially as specified.

5. The poultice, blister or compress protector made of water proof material and consisting of the backing part and the marginal face, whereby the poultice, blister or compress is protected at'the back and edges and exposed at the face, and provided with the nozzle e, substantially as specified.-

6. The poultice, blister or compress protector made of water proof material and consisting of the back part and the marginal face whereby the poultice, blister or compress is protected at the back and edges and exposed at the face, provided with the groove or gutter f and provided with the nozzle e, substantially as specified.

Q IDA M. HEMSTEGER. Witnesses:

H. M. MUNDAY, LEW. E. CURTIS. 

